A 62-year-old man hosting a sledding party in Oakland County, Michigan stuffed a used automobile muffler with gasoline, gunpowder and match heads, strapped it to his back and asked another person to light a fuse, seeking what Undersheriff Mike McCabe called “a rocket-launch effect.” As the man roared downhill on an orange plastic sled wearing a motorcycle helmet and a plastic garbage bag cape, the device blew up — causing second-degree burns to the man’s face and the right side of his body, and possible eye injuries. “Apparently he has this sledding party every year, and he always does outrageous things at it,” McCabe said. “But he’s never blown himself up before.” (Detroit Free Press)

WHEN  DRUGS ARE JUST THE SYMPTOM

Chinese officials in Shanghai warned of a “significant increase” in drug use among retired and middle-aged residents. Recreational users are taking ketamine, cocaine and methamphetamine to help them stay awake during marathon mahjong sessions. “The drug-taking mostly occurs among groups in card rooms, a place popular among the elderly,” Shanghai anti-drug commission official Zheng Yuqing told China Daily. (The Guardian)

DANCE IS THE DEVIL

A male dance instructor told police in Madison, Wisconsin, that a man booked private dance lessons but when the instructor opened the door to let him in, the man shocked him repeatedly in the neck with a stun gun. According to the criminal complaint, the 59-year-old attacker, who was also carrying a sledgehammer, insisted the instructor was a “sinner” who “defiles married women.” He told detectives that his church does not condone touching while dancing and that he intended to scare the instructor “and tell him to leave the women alone.” (Wisconsin State Journal)

DETACHABLE PENIS

Police who raided the home of South African drug lord Fadwaan “Fat” Murphy, 37, reported that while they were searching him his strap-on penis fell off. Charged with possessing stolen property, Murphy disclosed at a bail hearing in a Cape Town magistrate’s court that he was technically a hermaphrodite named Hilary. He explained he was born with both male and female sexual organs but had surgery to remove the female parts. “I stand firm as a man, as a husband and as a father,” Murphy declared under oath, calling his condition “God’s decision.” He noted that at least he hadn’t “been born with two heads.” After Murphy’s admission, his mother said she tried to raise him as a girl but “he wanted to wear pants.” (The Times)

TRAINED PROFESSIONALS

Swiss prostitutes are being trained to use defibrillators to revive clients with heart problems. Brothel owners in the Lugano area said electric shock treatment to restart customers’ hearts is necessary because so many elderly customers are using their services. “Having customers die on us isn’t exactly good publicity,” the owner of one sex club told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera. (Daily Telegraph)

FRANK’S WILD YEARS

At least half a dozen people have been killed and others injured in the Philippines while singing Frank Sinatra’s version of “My Way” at karaoke bars. As a result, many of the clubs have pulled the popular song from their playbooks, and karaoke singers have stopped singing it. Most of the “My Way” attacks have reportedly occurred because the singer sang out of tune, causing other patrons to laugh or jeer, sparking an argument. Other incidents were provoked by the song’s “arrogant” lyrics, according to Butch Albarracin, owner of a Manila-based singing school that has launched the careers of many famous singers. (New York Times)

SPOT THE FAIL

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in College Station, Texas, for trying to pass a counterfeit $5 bill. Officials said the bogus bill had an “overwhelming number of imperfections,” appearing to have been made by gluing two sheets of paper together with images of the front and back of a $5 bill printed on either side. Further evidence that the bill consisted of two pieces of paper cropped and glued together was the observation that the front of the bill was longer than the back. (The Eagle)

Compiled from mainstream media sources by Roland Sweet.